Children from four years old to sixth grade are invited to grab their megaphones, lace up their cleats, tune up their instruments and come “gear up for life’s big game” at the First Baptist Church of Moran sponsored Vacation Bible School Game On! taking place next week, July 30 through Aug. 3.

“We will learn about how Jesus brings joy in our life,” said organizer Jo Hise. “We will serve a hot meal, play games, and create fun crafts.”

VBS will start at 6:00 p.m. each evening and end at 8:30 p.m.

Groups of students and sponsors from 20 various high schools across the nation competed in the 2018 Solar Car Challenge (SCC) race and locals may have noticed their specialized solar-powered cars and assorted support vehicles when they passed through Albany on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 17, on the first day of the cross country race. 

Local investors plan to offer “unique living sites with a ranch setting only minutes from the center of historic Albany” with the new Clarke Estate Development project.

The project has been divided into two phases, and phase one is underway. 

The 159.55 acres included in the first part is located just to the east of the Albany ISD track.

The land has been divided into 22 lots of various sizes ranging from 5.5 to 15.6 acres, and roads have been laid out.

A house fire in Albany during the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 11, destroyed the home and the majority of the personal belongings of Trisha and J.R. Reyes, and donations for them are being accepted at both local banks.

“At approximately 3:30 a.m. the Albany Volunteer Fire Department responded to a well-involved structure fire on Gregg Street with Engine 2 and Rescue 5,” said chief Kyle Tischler. “The occupant was able to get out safely, but the house was completely destroyed. Unfortunately the family pets were lost in the fire.”

Albany ISD trustees looked at the comparisons of local and state STAAR and EOC test passing percentages during Monday night’s board meeting, and got a feel for how the district might end up in the state’s rating system, which will be released in August.

Interim superintendent Doyleen Terrell managed the session, with board vice president Robert Montgomery presiding in the absence of Betsy Parsons.

The musical Always...Patsy Cline was first performed on a stage in Texas in 1988, and in honor of the show’s 30th anniversary, a local cast will present four performances of the show at the Aztec Theater this August.

Show dates are Friday, Aug. 10 and 17, and Saturday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m., and a 2:30 matinee on Sunday, Aug. 12, with Lorna Ayers, Pam Davis, and The Bodacious Bobcat Band reprising the roles they’ve played several times before.

Tickets are $20 each for reserved seating on the first three rows. General admission seating is $15. 

The Albany Volunteer Fire Department’s water/Gatorade drive on the evening of Monday, July 16, went very well, according to fire chief Kyle Tischler.

“It was a tremendous success,” Tischler said. “It was like Christmas in July for the fire department. Many people in Albany came by and took great care of us by dropping off drinks and monetary donations and one couple even came over from Abilene to bring us water.” 

An investment advisor  spent almost an hour with the Shackelford County Hospital Board during the regular meeting on Monday, July 16.

Later, during the clinic session, the directors learned that the Shackelford County Health Clinic’s “Quality Scores” have resulted in an increase of Medicare payments to the clinic.

Hospital district administrator Jera Fairley reported the news that based on 2017 quality indicators, the clinic payment for Medicare patients will increase by 0.65 percent.

The Albany Chamber of Commerce office will be closed from Monday, July 23 until Monday, Aug. 6, but Chamber organizers already have a back-to-school bash planned for Thursday, Aug. 9.

“We are renting the pool from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for all local students from fifth grade through 12th,” said Chamber office manager Mary Beth Jones. 

The pool party is especially geared toward youth who are old enough they can be dropped off to swim, while the parents take care of shopping needs.

Parents of eighth grade and high school band members are asked to attend the first Band Boosters meeting of the 2018-2019 school year, set for Thursday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Albany High School band hall.

Local band director John Stockdale said Tuesday that Penelope Prater has volunteered to chair the booster organization, as well as organize the football concession stand for the band.